Lobbying data: A sample search

Today the Houston Chronicle published four databases that detail state lobbying activity back to January 2005. Users can search for lobbyists’ clients and expenditure totals, but also their detailed reports that list lawmakers and other officials who received food, drinks, gifts, entertainment or transportation and lodging.

The data accompany a story this morning about lobbyists spending money on executive-branch employees, a practice that industry leaders say is necessary to help clients. There are critics, though.

I thought it might be helpful to show an example of how users can search this data, which the Texas Ethics Commission doesn’t post online in an accessible format.

Say you’re represented by state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-League City. You can check this database to see if he’s received any meals, drinks, entertainment or gifts from lobbyists. The results look like this:

You’ll see that Taylor, who sits on the House insurance committee, has had numerous meals with Robert “Bo” Gilbert. A quick search of the lobby registration database shows that Gilbert works for auto insurance company USAA. He’s also done work for the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, records show.

Official photo

Rep. Taylor

In an interview today, Taylor disputed any notion that a few meals might sway his attention away from constituents’ concerns. He noted that several of his entertainment events were charitable in which all members of the Legislature were invited. He also said that some gifts on his list were tokens that lobbyists gave to several members.

“You’d have a hard time finding any lobbyist who thinks they can buy my vote,” he said. “I make my decisions based on what’s good for the people of District 24 and the state of Texas as a whole.”

“It’s good for people to know where lobbyists are spending money, but it’s also important to keep things in perspective,” he added.

Of course, Taylor also isn’t the only lawmaker who shows up in the databases frequently. State Sens. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, also received lots of meals, gifts or entertainment. So did Reps. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands; Wayne Smith, R-Baytown; and John Otto, R-Dayton.